Jason Dau is being honored as a Star of Life for his continual pursuit of excellence and compassion in his service to his community. He loves his community so much that he has dedicated his life to serving it.

Kotzebue, the Alaskan city where Jason was born and raised, is a small northwest arctic borough community that is part of the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium. The primary health care facility in the area is the Maniilaq Health Center, although the airbase that Jason is assigned to ensures that those in the outlying villages have access not only to the resources offered by Maniilaq but also to the advanced levels of care found in Anchorage at Alaska Native Medical Center. Jason’s work as a Flight Nurse is vital, as he ensures that the people of his community can receive specialized treatment should they require it. Without Jason and his fellow Guardian Flight crew, the critical cases in his secluded region would not have easy access to care.

Jason’s heart for service and care for his team are demonstrated in his extraordinary work ethic. His deep commitment to patient care is rooted and fueled by his inborn love for his own borough community—the only place he has ever called home.